Hosiery printing apparatus



Nov. 3, 1931. w. D. BUTZ HOSIERY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1930 4 SheetsSheet l F NR w J l aZZerJlBzIZ w 7 r W M 14' NOV. 3 1931. w, D T

HOSIERY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet .5

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A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1931. I D, Em 1,830,638

HOS I ERY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lwmvassf s 45 INVENTOR: m//% J mzzerflflwz,

TVITORNEYS.

. w a W Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER n. norzjor NonmsTowN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or ONEQEALF 'ro LOUIS N. i). WILLIAMS, or ELKINS PARK, rEN sYLvANIA Application filed June 18,

This invention relates to apparatus useful in printing articles such as seamless stockings made from tubular material with lines 1ntended to serve as guides incident to trimming and seaming for the purposes of better fitment of the stockings. More particularly, my invention has reference to printing apparatus useful in connection with the manufacture ofhosiery such as described in U; S. Letters Patent #1,752,587 granted me under date of April 1, 1930.

The main object of my invention is to provide a printing apparatus for the above designated purpose, which is simple inconstruction, efficient in operation, adaptable to accurately line marking. stockings of different sizes, and moreover capable of imprinting upon the stockings the proper size numbers and for ornamental design figures at the same time that the trimming and seaming guide marks are applied. 1 Still other objects and attendant advantages of this invention willbe manifest from the detailed description following in connection with the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I is a planview of my stocking printing apparatus with the parts in printing position.

Fig. II is a similar view of theapparatus but, showing the stocking supporting. form or board inposition to facilitate withdrawal of the stocking therefrom after printing and its delivery to an associated sewing machine for cutting and seaming.

Fig. III is a staggered longitudinal sectional View of the apparatus taken as indicated by the arrows IIIIII in Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a cross section taken as indicated by the arrows IV-IV in Fig. I.

Fig. V is a cross section taken as indicated by the arrows VV in Fig. II.

Fig. VI is a cross sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VIVI in Fig. I. c

Fig. VII is a view similar to Fig. VI with the parts in different positions. v V

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary plan view of the heel portion of the stocking supporting board drawn to a larger scale. ,Figs. IX and X are fragmentary detail sectionalviews taken as indicated by the arrows 1930. Serial No. 462,055.

X- IX and X-X in Fig. 11 and likewise drawn to a larger scale.

As herein delineated, the hosiery printing v apparatus of my invention comprises an ap propriately profiled flat form or board for supporting the stockings during marking, said board being swingable about a vertical pivotal mounting 11 toward and awayfrom a printing mechanism 12 resting on a table 18 alongside of a sewing machine 14. This sewing machine may be of any approved commercial type such asused in the artfor overedge seaming, and equipped with a suitable fabric cutting attachment, not shown.

In the present instance, the pivotal mounting 11 for the hosiery board 10 has the form of a tubular post 15 with a foot flange 16 whereby it is rigidly secured to the floor at a point adjacent the table 13. As shown, the stocking board 10 is freely fulcrumed on the post 15 with its pivot boss resting on an actuating lever 17 adapted to be manipulated by the knee of the operator. This actuating lever 17 is likewise free on the post 15 and rests on a split clamp collar 18 which is rotatably adjustable on said post, and which has a projecting stop finger 19 to limit outward movement of the lever 17 under the influence of a torsion spring 20. Another coiled spring '21 with'its opposite ends engaging the stocking board 10 and the actuating lever 17 serves as a flexible coupling means between these elements. The motion of the stocking board 10 is limited by stop fingers 22, 23 projecting from split clamp collars 24 which are individually adjustable rotatively about the upper end of the post 15.- To enable adaptation of the board 10 to stockings of different sizes, it is provided with a positionally adjustable heel piece 25 (Figs. II and VIII) whereof the exposed rounded part 26 is of the same thickness and therefore flush, top and bottom, with said board, A tongue 27 of reduced thickness on the heel piece-25' engages an edge groove 28 in the board 10, see Fig. IX. As shown in Figs. VIII and X, the tongue 27 has end extensions 29 which are pressed inwards by leaf springs 30 anchored at one end tofiller or retainer pieces 31 that close portions of theedge groove 28. Medially of the upper inner edge of its exposed rounded portion 26, the heel piece has a lateral arrow-head projection 32 capable of being selectively registered with index notches 33 along the contiguous edge of the board 10, said notches being numbered in accordance with standard stocking sizes. With the described arrangement, the heel piece 25 may be slid along the hosiery board 10 to different positions of adjustment as required wherein it will be yieldingly retained by action of the springs and by cooperation between the arrow-head projection 32 with the edge notches 33 ofthe board 10.

The base 35 of the printing mechanism 12 is of hollow rectangular configuration, and, adjacent one of its longer sides, has upstanding bearing lugs 36 for a fulcrum rod 37 "whereon is mounted, for up and down swinging movement, a frame 38. The upwardmovement of this frame 38 is yieldingly opposed by a spring 39 within the base 35 engaging an arm 40 secured to and depending from the fulcrum rod 37 at the center, see Figs. I and IV, the pressure of said spring being adjustable by means of a screw 41 taking into the back wall of said base. Downward movement of the frame 38 is definitelylimited by engagement of the depend- 10 and jointly constitutethe type for printing a line mark, such as shown at-L inFig. II on the upper face of the'mounted stocking S, to serve as a guide line for thepurpo'se of subsequent sewing and cutting. That section of the type member which corresponds to the toe of the stocking board 10 isfixedly attached to the bar 44 of the swinging frame 38 by screws 45a, while the companion section 46 is relatively adjustable lengthwise of the bar 44 to correspond with the adjustment of the heel piece-25 on the stocking board 10 in "adapting the apparatus to marking stockings of different sizes.

Such adjustment of "the type section 46' is made possible through slotting thereof as-at 48 for passage of clamp securin screws 49 that take into the lon itudinal bar 44 of the swinging frame 38. Numbered graduations are placed along one edge of one of the slots 48, as shown in Figs.

I and II, for coordination withan index ointer 50 associated with the corres ondin p P r clamp screw 49. In order to predetermine continuity of the line L imprinted upon the stocking S, the impress edges 47 of the two type sections 45,. 46 are extended, as at 51 in Figs. I and II with formation of overlapping juncture tongues. The bar 44 of the,

a bearing 55 upstanding from said type secvtion. To theother end of the axis 54issecured' a gear pinion 56 which meshes with a rack '57 attached tothe cross bar 44 of the swinging frame 38. By virtue of these provision it.

'will' be seen that as the typesection 46 is "moved from one position of adjustment to another, the type disk 52 is concurrently rotated and the proper type brought into position to print the size number on the stocking S at'the same time that the line mark L is printed thereon.- During each actuation of the apparatus in a manner presently explained, the impress edges 47 of the type sections 45, 46 take dyecolor'or ink from a pad 60 recessed in the top of a carriage 61 which has capacity for sliding movement in a direction transversely of the base 35 of the printing mechanism 12 As shown in Fig. 111, the under'surface of the carriage 61 is recessed along its side edges as at 62 to engage upstanding machined guideways 63 along the corresponding edges of the base 35 and secured to'the side edges of said carriage are gear racks 64 that mesh with pinions 65 at oppo'siteendsof a shaft 66 which extends longitudinally of the printing mechanism, 12 through medially allocated bearing bosses 67 on "the base 35. The purpose of this compound gearin 'g 64, 65 is'to prevent binding of the carriage 61,"as it is moved forward and backward of the type bed. frame 38 incident -towhich upstanding cam lugs 68 (Figs. I'V" VII) adjacent opposite side edges of said carriage,-cooperate with cam lugs '69 depending from the side arms 43 of the frame 38 and serve to swing the latter up and down, thereby, at onetime to bring the. printing edge 47 of the type member sections 45; 46 into and out of contact with the printing pad 60; and, at another time, into, and out of printing contact with the stocking S stretched on the board 10, also as later .on fully explained. Thecarriage 61 supporting the. ink pad 60 is held to the'guideways 63 on the base 35 by keeperpieces 70,71 securedv by screws to the foot flanges 72, ,7 3 o'r'said base, as shown in Fig. III;while the carriage 61 receives its movement'from the actuating ar'm 17 whereby the stocking'boa rd 1O is'swung toward and away from the printing mechanism 12. The

intervening connections include a hook member which is pivoted to the actuating lever rsaopes 17 at 76 and provided" forwardly of a shoulder 77 with a prolongation 78 having sliding guidance in a laterally projecting ear 79 of the carriage 61. The hoo member is adapted to engage a gravity dog which is swingable about a stud 81. let into the con tiguous side of the-carriage 61. Outward movement of the carriage 61, i. e. toward the left in Fig. IV, ceases when the dog 80 falls away from the hook member 75, as shown in Fig. V, incident to dro-ppingof itscam lug 82 off the end of the flange 72 of the base 35. Inward movement of the carriage 61 is, on the other hand, limited by stop abutments 83 up standing from the topof the base: 35, allas shown in Figs. I, II, IV and V.

The manner of using the device is as follows: With the parts positioned as in Fig. II, the operative stretchesthe stocking S over the board 10, and then presses against the actuating lever 17 with the knee. Immediately upon initiation of the inward swinging of the board 10 attendant upon this action, the hook member 7'5, through engagement of its shoulder 77 with the guide lug 7 9 on the carriage 61, causes said carriage tofollow the movement of the actuating lever 17.- Incidentally, the marking type sections 45, 46 and the number disk 52 are lifted from contact with the ink pad6 0 as a consequence of raising of the type frame 38 through cooperation of the cam rises 68 on the carriage 61 and the depending camlugs 69 on the frame arms 43, as shown in Fig. VI. The stocking board 10 is eventually arrested in the position of Figs. I and V I by the stop finger23, in which position it is maintained byiaction of the coupling spring 21 between it and the actuating lever 17. The inward movement of the carriage 61 continues however as further pressure is brought to bear upon the actuating lever 17 in opposition to the torsion spring 20 until saidcarriage comes to rest against the stop abutments 83 of the base housing 35. Just as the carriage 61'reaches the abutments 83, theoamlugs 68 thereon are advanced beneath the depending cam projections 69 of the arms 43 of the printing frame 38. As a consequence of the descent of the printing frame38 under these conditions, the printing or impress edges 47 of the type sections 45, 46 imprint the line mark L (Fig. II) upon the arrested stocking S on the board 10, the proper size number being at the same time imprintedon said stocking by the disk 52.

After such printing of the stocking S,the pressure on the actuating lever 17 is gradually relaxed; and the ensuing retraction of said lever is attended initially by lifting of the printing frame 38 and raising of the type section 45, 46 from the stocking S as a consequenceof the outward or reverse movement of the carriage 61 under pull of the dog 80 by the hook'm'ember 75. Upon accomplishment of the immediately foregoingsequence of operations, the'board 10' follows the movement ofthe' actuating lever 17 until arrested in the normal retracted position of Fig. II by the stop finger 22. Also during the rearward movement of the actu ating lever 17 the dog 80 finally drops away from thehook member'75, and this occurs just at the moment the lugs 68 clear the depending clamp projections 69 on the printing frame 38 as in Fig. :V whereby the edges '47 of the marking type sections45, 46 and the number disk 52 are brought into contact withthe pad 60 to receive ink in readiness for the next operation. By proper adjustment of the stop 22 the normal or rest position of the board-1O maybe so determined as stockings such as disclosed in the patent'hereinbefore referred to, I do not wish to be lim med to such use alone slnc'e the dev1ce'1s capable of adaptation to marking stockings or knitted articles of other kinds. The number disk 52 may obviously be'allocated otherwise on'the printing frame 38 than herein described. Fo-rexample, it may be so positioned as to print the size numbers on the toe of the stocking S if this should be more desirable. Furthermore, other type devices may be employed with, orin lieu of either or both the line type 45, 46 and thenumber disk '52, to print ornamental designs, trade marks orother identification marks upon the stock-.

ings. a

" Having thus described my invention, I clann 1. In apparatus for printing knit or woven A articles such ashosiery, printing mechanism includingia plvotal type member; a support for the articles movable toward and away from theprinting mechanism; and means whereby, as the support is presented to the printing mechanism, the type member is actuated by said movable support to apply an imprint upon the supported article.

2. In apparatus for printing knit or woven articles such as hosiery, printing mechanism including a vertically movable type member; a support for the articles swingable in a. horizontal plane toward and away from the printing mechanism; and means whereby, as the support is presented to the printing mechanism, the type member is actuated by said swingable support to apply an imprint upon the supported article. a

3. In apparatus for printing knit or woven articles such as hosiery, printing mechanism including a vertically movable type member; a support for the articles swingable en articles such as hosiery, printing mechanism mcludmg a rockable type member and 7 an ink pad; a support for the articles swing- ,able toward and away from the printing mechanism; and means whereby, as the supports presented to said printing mechanism,

the type member is downwardly rocked by said swingable support to. apply an imprint upon the supported article, and whereby, as

the support is withdrawn from said printing mechanism, the type member is moved into contact with the ink pad in readiness for the next printing operation.

5. In apparatus for printing knit or woven articles such as hosiery, printing mechanism including a vertically movable type member and an ink pad beneath said type member; a support for the articles movable in a horizontal plane toward and away from the printing mechanism; and means whereby, as the support is presented to the printing mechanism, the type member is actuated to apply an imprint upon the supported article, and whereby, as the support is withdrawn tron the printing mechanism, the type member is permitted to descend into contact with the ink pad in readiness for the next printing operation. 7

v 6. In apparatus for printing knit or wovon articles such as hosiery, printing mechanism including a vertically rockable type member and anji-nk pad normally beneath said printing member; a support for the ar-. ticles swingable 1n a horlzontal plane'toward and away from the printing mechanismand means whereb as the su ort is 7 a presented to the printing mechanism, the ink pad is moved out of the wayand the type member downwardlv rocked by said swingable support to apply an imprint upon the supported article.

7. In apparatus for printing knit or woven articles such as hosiery, printing ,mechanism including a. vertically movable type member, and an ink pad normally beneath said type member; a support for the articles movable in a horizontal plane toward and away] from the printing mechanism; and;

means whereby, as the support is presented to the printing mechanism, the ink pad is moved out of the way and the type member actuated to apply an imprint upon the supported article, and whereby, as the support is withdrawn, the ink pad is restored to normal position beneath the type member, and said type member permitted to descend into contact with the ink pad in readiness for the next printing operation.

8. In apparatus for printing tubular articles suchc'as, seamless lmit hosiery, printing mechanism including a rockable type memher; a flat profile mounting form to support the article, said .form being swingable toward and away r'ro'mthe printing mechanism and means whereby, as the form is presented to the printing mechanism, the type memberaforesaid is rocked by the formto efiect applicationof an imprint upon the mounted article. i

9. In printing apparatus for line mark: ingseamless knithosiery for the purposes of edge trimming; printing mechanism includingia type member with an adjustable heel marking section; a fiat profile mounting form for the stockings movabletoward and away from the printing mechanism, said.

mounting form havingva heel piece adjustable to correspond with the adjustment of the heel printing section of the type member; and means whereby, as the form is presented to the printing mechanism, the aforesaid type member is actuated to apply a line imprint upon the mounted stocking.

10. In printing apparatus for line marking tubular knit articles such as seamless knit hosiery for the purposes of edgetrimming; printing mechanism including a rockable member with a line type and a size marker; a flat profile mounting form for the article swingable horizontally toward and away from the printing mechanism; and means whereby, as the form is moved toward the printing mechanism, said mechanism is actuated by the swingable form to apply a line imprint and a sizemark upon the mounted article. 3 a

11. In printing apparatus for line marking seamless knit hosiery for the purposes of f. edge trimming, prlntingmechanlsm including a line type member with an adjustable section for marking the heel of the stocking and a size marker with number type coordinated for simultaneous adjustment with the adjustable section of the line type member aforesaid; a flat profile mounting form forthe the stockings movable toward and away from .the printing mechanism, said-form having a heel piece adjustable: to correspond with F- the adjustable section of the line type of, the printing mechanism; and means whereby, as the form is presented to th'e'printing mechanism, the latter is actuated to concurrently apply a linemark and the size imprint on the mounted stocking.

12. The combination with a trimming and sewing machine: of apparatus for line marking tubular articles such as seamless knit hosiery for the purposes ofedge trimming and seaming, said apparatus including vertically rockable printing mechanism, and a fiat profile mounting form for the article swingable horizontally toward and adapted to actuate the printing mechanism forproi. in

duction of a line imprint upon such article, and subsequently away from said printing mechanism to a position facilitating the running of the marked edge of the article direct to the trimming and sewing elements of the machine aforesaid incident to stripping the article from the form.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsyl Vania, this 6th day of June, 1930.

WALTER D. BUTZ. 

